Flying Dutchman

The Flying Dutchman, a ghost ship in several maritime legends, was a sign
of bad luck, particularly for sailors. In most versions, the ship appeared
off the Cape of Good Hope, the southern tip of Africa. The legend was
inspired by the story of a Dutch sea captain named Vanderdecken who
boasted that he could complete the journey around the cape during a fierce
storm. He swore that he would do so or keep trying forever. As punishment
for his rashness, he was condemned to sail around the cape until the end
of time. A similar version of the legend involves another captain who was
forced to sail across the ocean forever because he had sold his soul to
the devil. In 1843 the composer Richard Wagner wrote art opera based on
the tale of the Flying Dutchman, which spread the story's popularity.

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